elca cross-registration courses for january term 20132 - Lutheran ...

ELCA CROSS-REGISTRATION COURSES FOR JANUARY TERM 20132 

(9/26/12; rev. 9/27; 10/1/12; 11/7/12) 

The J-Term Reciprocity Program opens selected J-Term courses to degree candidates in all 

eight ELCA seminaries on the basis of cross-registration. Only the courses below are available 

for cross-registration. 

NOTE: For January Term courses below, registration for course credit is through LTSP, with applicable 

course tuition paid to LTSP at LTSP rates. Please understand the following: 

• Trips generally require advance registrations and payment of deposits by early Fall. Contact the 

host seminary directly to register for the actual trips, make any required deposits, and obtain 

advance preparation information. 

• Tuition payable to LTSP for trips sponsored by other seminaries is not eligible for the 50% tuition 

offset provided for course credit for LTSP-sponsored trips. 

• For clarification as to whether a course below will fulfill LTSP degree requirements and for a 

determination of the credit that will be received at LTSP, contact Dean Sebastian 

(jsebastian@ltsp.edu). Dr. Sebastian may also be able to discern if an immersion trip will satisfy 

global, ecumenical, or interfaith requirements and can advise you as to whether or not a followup 

paper is required for submission to him. 

• In the case of on-campus courses, students are expected to contact the host seminary regarding 

housing arrangements, the cost of which is the student’s responsibility. 

• For further information on courses below, consult the seminary’s website or contact that 

seminary’s registrar. 

Luther Seminary (www.luthersem.edu) 

Registrar Diane Doncits (ddoncits@luthersem.edu) 

HC 4337 01 Diaconal Ministry Discern History (1 course=3 sem hrs =1 LTSP unit) 

Instructors: Dirk Lange, Susan McArver 

This course introduces students to the historical, theological, and social contexts in which the work of 

diaconal ministry has been expressed throughout the church's history and asks how that history 

continues to impact the present. The course also provides significant opportunity for the development 

of spiritual disciplines and vocational discernment. 

January 14–18, Monday–Friday, 8:00–10:50 a.m. and 1:30–4:20 p.m. plus online components Jan 

7—Feb 1 

AG 4525 01 Spiritual Resiliency in Later Years (0.50 course =1.5 sem hrs=0.5 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Janet Ramsey 

A theoretical and practical examination of how faith makes differences as we age, particularly during 

middle age and the later years. A life span approach is used to explore the gifts of increasing spiritual 

maturity and personal wisdom. Traditional and emerging metaphors for spirituality are explored and 

special attention is given to the roles of Christian community, gender, cognition, affect, interpersonal 

relationships, and the life of prayer. 

January 22–25, Tuesday–Friday, 8:00–10:50 a.m., plus online component before and after course 

meeting times. Course web site in MyLutherNet>>

HC 3310 01 Modern Church in Europe and America (1789-Present) (1 course =3 sem hrs=1 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Mark Granquist 

A survey of major events, movements, and figures that have influenced the history of the church and its 

mission since the French Revolution in Europe and America since the 18th century with special attention 

to the history of Lutheranism. Required of all Lutheran master of divinity students. 

January 7–18, Monday–Friday, 9:00–10:50 am and 12:30–2:20 pm 

Course web site in MyLutherNet>> 

The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (www.ltsg.edu) 

Registrar Marty Stevens (mstevens@ltsg.edu) 

3.722 Preaching and Pastoral Care: Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms (1.5 credits each or 3 credits 

total=0.5–1 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Craig Satterlee 

Examines the theological, biblical and cultural influences that bear on funeral sermons. Students will 

study the theological, pastoral, and practical and cultural realities influencing wedding sermons. Design 

and presentation of sermons are performed in a workshop context of proclamation, critique and 

creative discussion. 

3.846 Appalachian Ministry (3 credits=1 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Gilson Waldkoenig 

Step into the world of Appalachian ministry to listen for the Word of Christ among God's people, and to 

experience everyday ministry. From traditional rural life to global issues in economy, ecology and 

culture, the Appalachian context will invite, challenge and inspire. An immersion for nine days involves 

residence with parishioners in parishes of north-central West Virginia. 

January 5–13. Registration deadline: November 15 

4.204 Diaconal Ministry Formation Event (3 credits=1 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Mark Oldenburg 

Every candidate for consecration as a diaconal minister in the ELCA must take part in a Formation Event, 

which provides a diaconal perspective for shaping a course of study and field experience. Participants 

will study the Biblical and historical roots and contemporary expressions of diaconal ministry, examine 

current models for ministry, and develop spiritual insights and disciplines for active ministry through 

worship, prayer, and group processes. Participation in the DMFE requires a positive entrance decision 

and a participation fee in addition to tuition.

The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (www.ltsp.edu) 

Registrar René Diemer (registrar@ltsp.edu). Housing requests to Sara Calderón, 

scalderon@ltsp.edu. 

ICA304 Next Level Preaching (1 unit = 3 semester hrs) 

Instructor: Karyn Wiseman (kwiseman@ltsp.edu) 

A course for students who have covered the basics of preparing and delivering a sermon through 

coursework, but who want to learn how to make a good sermon a great sermon. We will address new 

methods of sermon delivery (especially the paperless or near-paperless pulpit), creative use of story and 

image, paying attention to the context of the listeners, and acquiring the skills required to take a sermon 

to the next level. Preaching and storytelling assignments will augment the interactive nature of this 

course. (Pre-requisite: Homiletics.) Enrollment limited to 15. 

Meets Jan 14–18, Monday–Friday, approx. 8:30 am–5:30 pm, plus possible evening session(s) 

ILM305 Lutheran Hymnody (0.5 unit = 1.5 semester hrs) 

Instructors: Timothy Wengert (twengert@ltsp.edu) and Michael Krentz (mkrentz@ltsp.edu) 

An examination of the particular contribution that Lutheran hymns and songs have made to the history, 

theology, and music of the Church. Attention will be given to the historical origins of such hymns, to 

the development of the chorale, and to contemporary congregational singing. 

Meets Jan. 21–25, Monday–Friday, 10:00–11:45 am; 2:00–5:00 pm (10:00 am–noon on Friday) 

SGN15_ Global Travel Seminar: Egypt/Jordan 

Instructor: David Grafton (dgrafton@ltsp.edu) 

The Middle East is home to the earliest Christian communities denoted in Acts 2, many of whom still 

exist today. This travel seminar will look at the origins and development of Christianity in Egypt, and 

Jordan, the origin and role of monasticism, the 20th century Revival of the Coptic Church, the identity of 

Protestant missions in the Middle East, the importance of Arab-Islamic culture, and the ongoing effects 

of the “Arab Spring.” In particular, the course will focus on current manifestations of religion in public 

life, issues of poverty, gender issues, and the role of public Christian-Muslim religious and nationalist 

discourses. 

Trip dates: January 4–21. Prior registration for trip must be made through Dr. Grafton 

(dgrafton@ltsp.edu). Approximate cost: $3050 (exclusive of visa and passport costs and domestic US 

travel). Non-refundable deposit of $150 due September 15, 2012. 

SGN150 Global Option Credit—0.50 unit (1.5 sem hrs) 

SGN151 Ecumenical Option Credit—0.50 unit (1.5 sem hrs) 

SGN152 Interfaith Option Credit—0.50 unit (1.5 sem hrs) 

Student may register for up to two halfcredit 

courses related to trip. However, 

registration for credit is not necessary for 

trip participation. Consult your registrar.

Trinity Lutheran Seminary (http://www.tlsohio.edu/) 

Registrar Carol Dixon (registrar@tlsohio.edu) 

MN2654 Flourishing in the Parish: The Pastoral Life (3 sem hrs=1 LTSP unit) 

Instructors: Peter Marty (peter@stpaulqc.org); Emlyn Ott (eott@tlsohio.edu) 

Immersion experience at St. Paul Lutheran Church (www.stpaulqc.org) in Davenport, Iowa, as students 

work with a nationally recognized pastor and staff in a vibrant, growing central city congregation. 

Students will observe and reflect upon practices that contribute to healthy and dynamic church life. 

Daily onsite seminars address strategic thinking, decision-making, effective church leadership, and the 

importance of pastoral imagination. Students will gain practical insight on what makes the pastoral life 

so good, so meaningful, so significant, and so challenging. See Appendix A for additional information. 

Enrollment limited, and open to other ELCA seminaries. 

Meets January 4–17, all off campus in Davenport 

Estimated cost to student (in addition to tuition at home campus): books $50, travel on your own to 

and from Davenport (a $100 travel allowance is available from the congregation for students 

registering). Congregation will provide double occupancy housing at a local hotel and one meal per 

day. Hotel may provide continental breakfast. 

MN3194 Ecological Spirituality (2 sem hrs=0.5 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Lisa Dahill (ldahill@tlsohio.edu) 

In a time of increasing distance from the natural world, re-connection to the (literal) ground of our 

human life becomes all the more important: a return to the One who is the very ground of being itself. 

This course will include readings, field trips, and immersion experience geared toward sparking attentive 

presence to the creation, its Creator, and God’s desire of abundance of life for all. In addition to time in 

Columbus, we will spend a week at Camp Mowona in central Ohio. The course will include ongoing 

(non-academic) outdoor time into the spring and a final creative project due in April. Prerequisite: 

worship course or 12 semester hours of coursework completed. 

Meets January 8–18 

On campus: Jan 8–10, 1:00–5:00 p.m. [possibly an all-day local field trip on Jan 10] 

Off campus: Jan 13–18 

Estimated additional cost to student: $280 (lodging and meals at Camp Mowona, misc expenses 

such as art supplies), plus travel to and from Camp Mowona. 

Instructor’s note: In case you are anxious about the time commitment for the ongoing outdoor time, 

please don't be—it is meant to be a non-threatening opportunity to spend a little time outdoors. 

The simplest way to fulfill the project is to take photos of a particular place in creation once every 1–2 

weeks between the end of the J-term course and April. At the end, post the photos to the class Sakai site 

to show a contemplative record of the journey this place is making from winter into spring. If you prefer, 

you can make drawings or write poetic images of the particular place every 1–2 weeks and post those on 

the site in April. No writing required.

Wartburg Seminary (www.wartburgseminary.edu) 

Registrar Kevin Anderson (registrar@wartburgseminary.edu) 

Mexico City Immersion 

Instructor: Eliseo Perez (eperez@lsps.edu) 

While Mexico is one of US’s closest neighbors, it is one of the least understood. During two and a half 

weeks of site visits, lectures, and cultural exchanges, you will experience the spiritual, cultural, and 

socio-political realities of Mexico, like few have the chance to do. You will engage in theology from a 

Latin American context as you participate in lectures from leading Mexican anthropologists, theologians, 

and church leaders. Plus you will be immersed in different perspectives on ministry and church life as 

you worship, eat, and live among Mexican faith communities in Mexico City and Cuernavaca. You will no 

doubt find many opportunities to grow personally and vocationally as you experience Christ’s 

community in a different social, political and economic contexts. 

Activities include: 

1. Lectures given by Mexican anthropologists, theologians, and church leaders with themes such as 

the Mexican Reformation, Mujerista Theology, Reading the Bible in Spanish, Pastoral Challenges, 

Zapatismo, Struggles of Indigenous Women, Liberation Theology, and Drug Trafficking. 

2. Three days in Cuernavaca meeting liberation theologians and worshipping with Christian base 

communities. 

3. Meet professors and students from the Seminario Luterano Augsburg and the Comunidad 

Teológica based in Mexico City. 

4. Site visits to the Teotihuacan pyramids, the famous Frida Kahlo house, the historic city center, 

and the National Museum of Anthropology. 

5. Opportunities to witness examples of community transformation in marginalized communities 

promoted by Christ-centered Mexican nonprofits. 

6. Roundtable discussion on pastoral challenges with students in the Mexican Theological 

Community 

January 9–23. Approximate cost: $1390 per student and faculty member. The cost includes all 

lodging (10 nights in dorms, 4 nights in home stays), all meals, entrance fees to tourist activities, 

lectures, transportation to and from the airport, all in-country transportation, and accompaniment 

by at least one translator. The cost does not include airfare, traveler’s insurance, or any personal 

spending/shopping money. 

Luther, Pietism, and Bonhoeffer: Germany Study Tour (3 sem hrs=1 LTSP unit) 

Instructor: Craig L. Nessan (cnessan@wartburgseminary.edu) 

A study tour to Germany, focused on sites related to the legacy of Martin Luther, German Pietism, and 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In anticipation of the 500 th anniversary of the Reformation, this immersion will 

trace these three key threads of the Reformation heritage in relationship to their significance to present 

day realities in church and society. Travel will include sites and encounters related to Luther 

(Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, and the Wartburg Castle), German Pietism (Herrnhut, Halle, and 

Neuendettelsau), Bach (Eisenach and Leipzig), and Bonhoeffer (Berlin, Buchenwald, and Flossenbürg. 

January 4–24, 2013; see Appendix B for details concerning itinerary, costs, required readings, etc.

MN 399W Namibia 

We will visit primarily the northern church of Namibia, ELCIN, staying in church guest houses. Details are 

still coming together, but hopefully we will worship in local congregations, visit a high school, a parish 

institute for evangelists, church headquarters, the Paulinum Seminary, a home for the elderly, a 

Lutheran Medical Mission and explore issues around AIDS/HIV, meet with groups doing social ministries 

such as micro enterprises as well as larger LWF development projects and groups working with orphans 

and vulnerable children. We will also hopefully visit a couple of townships and tribal areas and perhaps 

Etosha National Park. 

Dates: January 17–28 

Approximate cost - $3,500-4,500 dollars (plus your own seminary's tuition). Students will need upto-date 

passports, some shots and malaria prophylactic treatments. 

The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (www.lstc.edu) 

Registrar Pat Bartley (pbartley@lstc.edu) 

L/M, M/L 425 Travel Seminar: Leadership and Mission in Rural Congregations 

Instructors: Dr. Terrence Baeder and Nebraska Synod Rural Ministry Task Force 

This travel seminar on Christian ministry in Nebraska rural settings offers a taste of rural living and the 

opportunity to witness/discuss major changes taking place in rural culture (e.g., ecology, economic 

globalization, alternative energy, organic and sustainable farming, urbanization, the rise of agribusiness, 

etc.). The course focuses on the impact of these changes on rural communities, as well as how leaders 

and communities are creatively engaging these new challenges and opportunities (with a particular 

emphasis on how pastoral leaders and congregations understand and implement their mission). The 

class will have opportunities to meet with pastors and church leaders, as well as business, social 

services, and civic leaders, and to discuss with them the expectations held for church leaders, the 

challenges and joys of leadership, and the skills and gifts that help make one an effective church/ 

community leader. In brief, this is a hands-on learning opportunity about on-the-ground ministry in a 

globally connected rural setting. 

The seminar will begin at LSTC with two reading days (Monday–Tuesday, Jan. 7–8) and two seminar 

days at LSTC (Wednesday–Thursday, Jan. 9–10) before leaving for the immersion part of the course 

(early morning, Jan. 11). The Nebraska immersion is from Jan. 11 to 20. During the final week of the 

course, students have two full days to work on projects (Jan. 21–22) before meeting again in 

seminar session at LSTC for sharing projects and wrap-up (Jan. 23–25). 

H/W-401A Indian Christianity in Its Religiously Plural Context 

Instructors: Mark Swanson and Peter Vethanayagamony 

This travel seminar to India aims to provide participants an introduction to and experience of Indian 

Christianity in its religiously plural context. The course combines the rigors of a traditional seminar with 

the excitement and intensity of nearly round-the-clock learning and camaraderie on a trip. During our 

sojourn in Hyderabad, India, we will have opportunities to see how people of different faith traditions 

live together, and to learn about the challenges and opportunities faced by Christian leaders in 

promoting peaceful coexistence and religious harmony. Though the major focus is on Christian-Muslim 

relations and dialogue, a wide exposure to the religious tapestry of India will be pursued through our 

visits to different places of worship and in our lectures from experts of different faiths. Students will 

have opportunities to meet with people of different faith traditions and communities, and to discuss 

with them in a safe environment the challenges of living in a multi-religious context; the goal is to 

acquire the skills needed to carry on dialogue. 

Dates: January 7–8 at LSTC 

January 9–21 travel to Hyderabad, India

Pacific Lutheran Seminary (www.plts.edu) 

Contact Christopher Evans (cevans@plts.edu) 

FT-1856 Spanish Immersion: Los Angeles 

A three-week immersion experience with the New City Parish coalition in Los Angeles. Includes living 

with a Latino family, daily language classes and workshops, group outings, worship and participation 

with local congregations. A fee is to be paid by students to New City Parish, and students are also 

responsible for transportation and material costs. [PIN code required; 15 max enrollment] 

Dates TBA. 

FT-2522 Ministry in the City 

Weekend immersion experience with the New City Parish coalition in Los Angeles. Includes living with a 

family, participating in the worship and ministry of local congregations, cross-cultural experiences and 

training. Student project with reflective paper required for credit. A fee of is to be paid to New City 

Parish. Students provide their own transportation. [15 max enrollment] 

Dates TBA.

APPENDIX A 

MN2654 Flourishing in the Parish (The Pastoral Life) 

Trinity Lutheran Seminary J-Term Immersion 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa 

Lead Pastor and Immersion Faculty: Peter W. Marty 

Trinity Faculty: Emlyn A. Ott 

January 4 to January 17, 2013 

Two-week Immersion experience at St. Paul Lutheran Church (www.stpaulqc.org. Students will observe 

and reflect upon practices that contribute to healthy and dynamic church life. Daily onsite seminars 

address strategic thinking, decision-making, effective church leadership, and the importance of pastoral 

imagination. Eligible for ELCA cross-registration. Three semester hours. 

The Congregational Setting 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, IA, is a 3500-member central city congregation located in the Quad 

Cities metropolitan area (pop: 300,000). Known for both its investment in local urban renewal and global 

mission efforts, St. Paul is also a center for creative worship and a widely recognized music program. The 

setting of St. Paul serves as an ideal location for a parish ministry immersion site. 

Course Objective 

This immersion course provides a firsthand opportunity for students to work with a lead pastor and staff 

in a vibrant and growing central city congregation. Students will be able to witness and reflect upon the 

many facets of the pastoral life, and to observe the texture of congregational practices and behaviors 

that foster a healthy and dynamic model for church life. Students will learn key habits and practices for 

entering ministry with greater confidence and grace. The greatest value of the course will emerge from 

the opportunity to gain insight on what makes the pastoral life so good, so meaningful, so significant, 

and – yes, on any number of days – so challenging. All class discussion, reading assignments, and short 

reflection papers will be organized around the student imagining him or herself in the vocation of parish 

ministry, of course situated in a host of different congregational settings. 

The Nature of the Course Content 

Because this is an immersion experience, students will meet together in an extensive capacity for every 

day of the week. The most structured meeting times will be during the weekday morning and afternoon 

seminars. Important group experiences and pastoral encounters will take place outside of seminar or 

classroom time as well. Some of each day will be spent experiencing the up-close work of pastors and a 

congregation in action. Other time together will involve a behind-the-scene’s look at decision-making, 

strategic thinking, planning, and collaborating for all levels of congregational leadership. Still other time 

will be spent in worship, local culture, communal eating, and fun. 

(over)

Schedule for Seminars 

Because the St. Paul congregation’s life will not cease during this two-week course, and the daily 

pastoral responsibilities that go with life at St. Paul will not grind to a halt either, there will be some 

necessary flexibility surrounding specific seminar times. In general, students will gather for a seminar 

each weekday morning from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. and from 1:00 – 3:00 each weekday afternoon. These 

classroom times will be in addition to other shared experiences of the group each day. Seminar readings 

and/or reflection paper preparation or writing will be an expected component of each student’s daily 

routine. 

Orientation will take place on Friday, January 4, 2013, 2:00 p.m. at the church. The J-term course will 

conclude Thursday, January 17, 2013. 

Seminar Topics 

1. Pastoral Leadership will form the core subject matter for half of the total seminar time. Every 

subject considered will attend closely to the character and manner or style with which a pastor 

approaches particular ministry tasks and people. This focus is different from a rigidly practical approach 

that dwells more heavily on the technical skill requirements for accomplishing those same tasks and 

working with those same people. At issue will be the heart, soul, and mind of a person entering 

ordained ministry. Who is such a one in pursuit of a well-lived life of rich texture and spiritual depth, 

who actually lives differently than that other person who thinks of ministry as “a nice job in a pleasant 

setting where you get to help people?” 

Specific areas of pastoral leadership addressed will include: 

� Vision and Planning 

� Appreciating the Servant Character of Ministry 

� Loving All People Including the Hard-to-Love Ones 

� Grasping the Meaning of Mission 

� Helping Shape a Congregation in Intentional Ways 

� Leading Meetings with Creativity and Purpose 

� Attending to One’s Own Spiritual Life 

� Reading People Well and Responding to Those Perceptions 

� Helping Others Find Their Theological Voice While Finding One’s Own 

� Addressing Tough Issues 

� Thoughtful Preaching 

� Teaching Effectively in a Range of Settings 

� Writing in a Manner That’s Worth Reading 

� Community Involvement and Commitment 

� Recognizing the Basics of Systems Theory in an Actual Setting 

� Professional Behaviors and Etiquette 

� Establishing Habits and Virtues for the Long Haul

2. Practical Parish Realities will constitute the other half of seminar time. This will be an 

opportunity to not only discuss, with gifted people in the field, the practical aspects of leading a 

congregation, but also to get behind the methodologies that inspire, sustain, and provide deep 

fulfillment for routine tasks and ordinary responsibilities. It is this joy with which one gets to engage an 

assignment that contributes to the deepest vocational meaning. Specific areas addressed under this 

understanding of joy include: 

� Youth Leadership in Today’s World 

� Financial and Stewardship Considerations Vital to a Flourishing Congregation 

� Forming Faith in Ways that Transform Lives 

� Worship Creativity and Planning 

� The Ever-Evolving World of Church Music 

� Wise Communication that Thinks Congregationally 

� Fostering Valuable Pride in the Physical Plant 

� Developing a Nose for Hospitality, Not Just Friendliness 

� Being Smart About Technology in a Church with Limited Resources 

Books and Articles 

The final list of books and articles that will be used has yet to be assembled in this first draft of a 

syllabus. Given the limited time frame for this J-term course, however, most of the books will necessarily 

include the reading of only select chapters. The out-of-pocket book expense per student will not exceed 

$50. 

Authors to be read will include such individuals as Eugene Peterson, Craig Barnes, Will Willimon, Greg 

Jones, David Hansen, Barbara Brown Taylor, Joan Chittister, Richard Lischer, N.T. Wright, and Peter W. 

Marty. 

Seminar Expectations and Writing Assignments 

The Parish Ministry Immersion experience will be highly reflection-oriented, not search-engine or 

special-collections-at-the-library oriented. Active participation in group discussion is expected. A 

thorough reading of assignments in preparation for each seminar is also an understood commitment. 

When the class gathers for any function, common meal, short field trip, or seminar, participation by all 

students is expected. 

->There will be ample free time for students to explore the Quad Cities’ scene and to enjoy personal 

time. 

Three reflection papers on assigned subjects relating to seminar conversation and readings will be due 

in the course of the 14 days. Each should be no less than two (or three) pages double-spaced. 

Cost in addition to Tuition 

Travel: Covered and arranged by student. Congregation will provide a $100 travel allowance to students 

upon registration. 

Books: Approximately $50 

Housing and meals: Accomodations (double occupancy) will be provided by the congregation at a local 

hotel. One meal/day provided by the congregation; the hotel may provide continental breakfast; 

students responsible for other meals.

APPENDIX B 

Luther, Pietism, and Bonhoeffer: 

Germany Study Tour 

January 4-24, 2013 

Led by the Rev. Dr. Craig L. Nessan 

Academic Dean and Professor of Contextual Theology 

Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa 

You are invited to participate January 4-24, 2013 in a study tour to Germany, focused on sites related to 

the legacy of Martin Luther, German Pietism, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In anticipation of the 500 th 

anniversary of the Reformation, this immersion will trace these three key threads of the Reformation 

heritage in relationship to their significance to present day realities in church and society. 

Travel will include sites and encounters related to Luther (Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, and 

the Wartburg Castle), German Pietism (Herrnhut, Halle, and Neuendettelsau), Bach (Eisenach and 

Leipzig), and Bonhoeffer (Berlin, Buchenwald, and Flossenbürg. 

The tour is being organized in partnership with Christian Tours Europe (contact: Renate Skirl). The 

complete itinerary of and conditions related to the tour is attached. 

Costs are as follows: 

• Airfare round trip Chicago to Munich (local transport to and from Chicago to be arranged by 

participants): $1084** (**subject to change by British Air based on fuel costs) 

• Per person rates (according to number of participants): 

o 15-19 persons $2500 per person 




• Additional cost for single room accommodations: $480 per person 

• 20 lunches and 1 dinner will be paid individually and are not included in tour cost. 

• Not included: Expenses for passports, visas, bar bills, additional beverages, phone calls, laundry, 

other insurance, baggage, meals beyond those included in the itinerary, and other items of a 

personal nature. 

Deposit of $500 due upon registration ($100 non-refundable, due to flight reservation) 

Second payment of $500 due on September 1, 2013 

Remainder due on October 1, 2013 (this is the firm due date!) 

Reservation information (including participant name, address, phone number, and email address) and 

payments by check (made out to Wartburg Seminary) should be sent to: 

Wartburg Theological Seminary 

c/o Dr. Craig Nessan 

333 Wartburg Place 

Dubuque, IA 52004

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A VALID PASSPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL! United States 

passports do not require a visa for travel in Germany. 

This immersion is available for 3 hours of academic credit at ELCA theological seminaries for students 

completing all required work and paying tuition to the home seminary. 

Wartburg Theological Seminary students may meet their Cross-Cultural requirement by completing the 

requirements of this course. 

Reading List (required for this seeking academic credit): 

• Peter C. Erb, Editor. Pietists: Selected Writings. Paulist Press, 1983. 

• Heiko Obermann, Luther: Man Between God and Devil. Yale University Press, 2006. 

• “Wilhelm Loehe and His Legacy,” Currents in Theology and Mission 33(April 2006) [available 

from WTS for $5]. 

• Ferdinand Schlingensiepen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906-1945:Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance. 

T & T Clark, 2010. 

Recommended Readings (for all participants, in addition to the above): 

• Geffrey B. Kelly and F. Burton Nelson, Editors. A Testament to Freedom: The Essential Writings of 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer. HarperOne, 1995. 

• Timothy F. Lull and William R. Russell, Editors. Martin Luther’s Basic Theological Writings. Third 

Edition. Fortress Press, 2012. [or an earlier edition]. 

For more information, contact Prof. Craig Nessan, cnessan@wartburgseminary.edu 

Itinerary 

A travel program of Christian Tours Europe. Sponsored by Wartburg Theological Seminary. 

Day 1, Friday, January 4, 2013: Your Journey Begins 

Depart the US, transatlantic overnight flight to Munich. 

Day 2, Saturday, January 5, 2013: Herzlich Willkommen! 

Arrive in Munich, orientation drive while you are transferred to your hotel. In the evening, welcome 

briefing and dinner. D 

Day 3, Sunday, January 6, 2013: Munich 

Worship service in Munich (we celebrate Epiphany here in Germany). A local guide will introduce us to 

the sights of Bavaria's capital, the Nymphenburg Palace, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Olympic 

Stadium. The tour guide will speak about the “White Rose” during the tour. Free time in the afternoon 

to explore the city on your own. Dinner at the famous Hofbräuhaus. BD 

Day 4, Monday, January 7, 2013: Flossenbürg 

Leave Munich for Flossenbürg. Guided tour of the concentration camp, where Dietrich Bonhoeffer was 

imprisoned and died. In the afternoon, drive north to Herrnhut, town of the hymn writer Nicolaus von 

Zinzendorf, center of the Moravian settlement and home of the Daily Texts, Bible readings used 

devotionally worldwide since the early 18 th century. Check in, dinner and overnight at the retreat center 

Herrnhut. BD

Day 5, Tuesday, January 8, 2013: Herrnhut 

Start the day in joining the Herrnhut community for morning worship. Afterwards, visit the 

congregational building, local history museum and the factory, where the Moravian stars are made. In 

the afternoon, hear a presentation on “The Daily Texts: Scripture in Christian Spirituality.” Later, head 

north to Wittenberg. Check in at Colleg Wittenberg for the next 10 days. BD 

Day 6 Wednesday, January 9, 2013: Wittenberg through 

Day 14, Thursday, January 17, 2013: Wittenberg (breakfast and dinner daily) 

In Wittenberg, the following tours and lectures are planned: 

- Guided tour of Wittenberg, which includes the Castle Church and Town Church, as well as the 

Lutherhouse and Melanchthonhouse Museums. 

- Coffee and cake and a presentation by Dr. Arden Haug, representative of the ELCA for Europe and 

presentation of the Luthergarden, a project of the LWF that will culminate in the celebration of the 500 th 

anniversary of the Reformation. 

- Sunday worship service and church coffee to meet with local church members. 

- English Stammtisch (has to be on a Thursday evening). 

- Meeting with vicars and professors of the Preacher’s Seminary in Wittenberg. 

- Meeting with Protestant sisters of a convent in Wittenberg. 

- Lecture on church life in East and West Germany (before and after the re-unification of Germany). 

- Day trip to Leipzig 

Enjoy a full day in Leipzig. In May 1989, the people of Leipzig first organized the demonstrations that 

brought hundreds of thousands into the streets for the “Peaceful Revolution.” We will visit their 

rendezvous point at the Gothic St. Nicholas Church, built in 1165. After time and lunch on your own (we 

suggest to go for lunch at the historic Auerbachs Keller, where, in a scene made famous in Johann 

Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust, Faust and Mephistopheles drank with the local students before flying 

away on a barrel). We meet for a presentation by a participant in the Peaceful Revolution. Later on, we 

will enjoy the Motet with the famous St. Thomas Boys Choir at the 14 th century St. Thomas 

Church, where Luther preached and where Bach served as cantor and choirmaster for 25 years. 

- Day trip to Halle and Eisleben 

We leave for a short drive to neighboring Halle. Visit the Market Church, where you will ‘see’ George 

Fredrick Händel who composed “The Messiah.” Martin Luther’s body rested here overnight en route to 

Wittenberg. A chamber is devoted to his death mask. Our visit includes the Francke Foundations, a 

center of Pietist practice, from which Henry Melchior Muhlenberg began his 1742 journey to organize 

the Lutheran Church in North America. In the afternoon, we continue to Eisleben. Luther’s birth and 

death occurred here, in his “Bethlehem” and “Jerusalem.” His home is typical of the Middle Ages. An 

exhibition interprets the spiritual environment of Luther’s childhood. Our tour includes a stop at St. 

Peter and Paul, where Luther was baptized and at St. Andrews, where he gave his last four sermons. 

- Day trip to Berlin 

Become familiar with the vibrant city of Berlin on a city tour including its major religious and historical 

sites. Your local tour guide will show you sites such as the 1905 neo-Baroque Berlin Cathedral, the 

bomb-damaged tower of Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, the "Unter 

den Linden" government district, and remains of the Berlin Wall. Our afternoon is dedicated to the 

Bonhoeffer House, built in 1935 for Dietrich Bonhoeffer's parents. Hidden here, the manuscript of

Bonhoeffer’s analysis of the German resistance survived the war. On April 5, 1943, Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

was arrested in this building, which now houses an exhibit devoted to his works. 

Day 15, Friday, January 18, 2013: Erfurt 

We say good bye to Wittenberg and continue to Erfurt, where we will take a city tour in the footsteps of 

Martin Luther. We will see the university district, where Luther studied, and visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, 

where he was ordained. We will also tour the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther took his monastic 

vows and lived as a monk. Dinner tonight is planned at a local restaurant with typical Thuringian food. 

We will spend the next two nights at the Radisson BLU in Erfurt. BD 

Day 16, Saturday, January 19, 2013: Weimar and Buchenwald 

Travel to Weimar this morning, one of Germany’s cultural capitals. Here you will tour the city of Schiller 

and Goethe and visit the Herder church, with its famous Cranach altar. After some free time for lunch, 

continue to the former concentration camp Buchenwald, where a quarter million people were 

imprisoned between 1937 and 1945. All of them suffered and 50,000 of them died. Among the prisoners 

were Lutheran pastors Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Paul Schneider, outspoken opponents of National 

Socialism. A private guided tour will allow us time for reflection and a service of reconciliation. Back to 

Erfurt this evening. No group dinner tonight. B 

Day 17, Sunday, January 20, 2013: Eisenach 

This morning, we travel to Eisenach. Upon arrival, we visit the Bach House to experience, what a typical 

home looked like in the 18 th century, see an interesting collection of antique instruments and enjoy a 

musical presentation using a variety of these period pieces. After lunch on our own, a walking tour of 

Eisenach will bring us to St. George’s school, which Luther attended from 1498 to 1501, to the market 

square and St. George’s Church, where Johann Sebastian Bach was baptized and Martin Luther sang in 

the boys choir. Hotel check in for one night. BD 

Day 18, Monday, January 21, 2013: Wartburg Castle 

In the morning, we will visit the Wartburg Castle, where Luther disguised himself as a squire named 

“Junker Jorg” and hid away after he was declared an outlaw at the Diet of Worms in 1521. Here at the 

Wartburg Castle, he created one of his most important works — the translation of the New Testament 

into German. On our guided tour of the castle, we will also see the room where Luther lived and worked 

on his translation. In the afternoon, we will leave Lutherland and head south to Bavaria. We continue to 

Neuendettelsau, the town of Wilhelm Loehe. Overnight in Neuendettelsau (3 nights.) BD 

Day 19, Tuesday, January 22, 2013: Neuendettelsau 

In Neuendettelsau, we will hear from a local scholar, Horst Becker, on “Loehe and Mission: A Global 

Perspective,” and "Lutheranism's Pathway to Iowa,” followed by a visit to the Loehe Museum. This will 

be a day to think about our roots and how the church and the Reformation movement have branched 

out over the years into the whole world. BD 

Day 20, Wednesday, January 23, 2013: Neuendettelsau 

In the morning, meet a diaconal sister who will talk to us about their life, mission and work. She will 

show us around their facilities. Visit the Mission Interpretation Center. Possible meeting with professors 

and students of the Augustana Hochschule. BD

Day 21, Thursday, January 24, 2013: Auf Wiedersehen! 

It is time to say goodbye. An early morning transfer will bring you to Nuremberg’s airport (or Munich 

airport) for your homebound flight. B 

Confirmed accommodation: 

Munich 2 nights Park Inn Munich Ost 

Herrnhut 1 night Retreat Center Herrnhut 

Wittenberg 10 nights Colleg Wittenberg 

Erfurt 2 nights Radisson BLU 

Eisenach 1 night Haus Hainstein 

Neuendettelsau 3 nights Dialog Hotel 

Rates: 

The net rates per paid participant for the land arrangement are based on double occupancy: 

• with 15–19 paying participants US$ 2,500.00 per person 




Single room supplement US$ 480.00 per person 

Included: 

- Thoroughly experienced multilingual tour director where necessary. 

- Transportation by private bus, scheduled trains (2 nd class,) taxi or public transportation. 

- Accommodation in German twin bedded rooms. 

- All taxes, parking and road fees. 

- Guided city tours in Munich, Wittenberg, Leipzig, Eisleben, Berlin, Erfurt, Weimar and Eisenach. 

- Admission and private guided tours at Flossenbürg Memorial site, Castle Church, City Church, 

Lutherhouse and Melanchthonhouse in Wittenberg, Francke Foundation and Market Church in Halle, 

Luthers Birthhouse museum and St. Peter and Paul and St. Andrews Church in Eisleben, Bonhoeffer 

House in Berlin, Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt, Buchenwald Memorial site, Bachhouse and Wartburg 

Castle in Eisenach. 

- Admission to Motette in Leipzig. 

- Coffee and Cake with ELCA Wittenberg Center. 

- Three lectures in Wittenberg 

- Presentation of the Luthergarden, a project of the LWF. 

- Sunday worship service church coffee to meet with local church members. 

- Presentation on Peaceful Revolution in Leipzig. 

- Gifts for presenters and room rentals in Neuendettelsau. 

- 37 meals: 19 buffet breakfasts and 18 dinners (beverages and drinks are not included with lunch and 

dinners). 

- All necessary tips such as bellman, maid, doormen, dining room tips for meals specified in the itinerary 

and the customary gratuity to drivers, tour director and step-on guides are included. 

- Information folder for all participants including town and country brochures, information on Germany 

and a detailed timed itinerary upon arrival in Munich. 

Not included: 

Airfare, expenses for passports, visas, bar bills, additional beverages, telephone calls, laundry or items of 

a personal nature, baggage or other insurance and meals other than those included in the itinerary.

Payment, cancellation, terms and conditions: 

• Airfares are not included. 

• Booking party is responsible for all visa, health and passport regulations. 

• Participants are encouraged to purchase trip insurance to cover health, trip cancellation or 

delay, and loss of baggage. 

• Participants should be able to climb stairs (sometimes many) without assistance and to walk at a 

modest pace for a mile at a time. 

• Notification of double/single occupancy and the names of the participants should be received 

ten weeks in advance. 

• The travel group is responsible for the payment of any single room supplements required due to 

an odd number of participants of either gender requesting double occupancy. 

• All rates are net without commission and in US Dollars. 

• Rates are applicable for 2013. Due to currency fluctuations, we reserve the right to adjust prices 

after renegotiation with the booking party. 

• In the event that any dispute arises on which any party has a right to assert a civil claim related 

to this tour agreement, the exclusive jurisdiction for that claim shall be in a court of competent 

jurisdiction, located in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. 

Mit freundlichen Grüßen, 

Renate Skirl 

Christian Tours Europe

elca cross-registration courses for january term 20132 - Lutheran ...

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